The Extra's Rise
Chapter 596 - 596: Meilyn Potan (3)

I couldn't stop smiling.

It was completely unprofessional, and I was sure Arthur was probably judging me for my obvious excitement, but I couldn't bring myself to care. I was sitting in Grand Marshal Meilyn Potan's private residence, having an actual conversation with her about tactical innovations and magical theory, and she was treating me like an equal rather than some starstruck admirer.

Which I absolutely was not. I was simply a professional practitioner who happened to deeply appreciate her contributions to the field.

"Your analysis of tactics against undead was groundbreaking," I found myself saying as I carefully placed the inscribed document she'd given me into my spatial storage—I would probably frame it later, though I'd never admit that to Arthur.

"I'm pleased it was useful," Meilyn replied with genuine warmth. "The research was fascinating to conduct, though I have to admit the practical testing phase was somewhat hazardous. It took considerable trial and error to find the optimal balance."

"The section about mana flow patterns through weapon matrices was particularly enlightening," I continued, probably sounding far too enthusiastic but unable to stop myself. "I've been trying to adapt some of those principles to my own techniques, though I use a different weapon."

"What's your primary focus?" she asked with obvious interest.

"Deepdark manipulation through twin daggers," I replied, then felt a thrill of excitement as her golden eyes sharpened with professional curiosity.

"Fascinating. Finding ways to coordinate both daggers simultaneously must require exceptional mental discipline."

The fact that Grand Marshal Meilyn Potan—the Meilyn Potan—was genuinely interested in my work and was asking thoughtful questions about my techniques was almost overwhelming. I could feel myself glowing with happiness in a way that was probably visible from space.

"Speaking of magical applications," Meilyn said, her tone shifting to something more speculative, "would you be interested in seeing some practical demonstrations? I have a facility at the border that might provide some interesting perspectives on integrated combat techniques."

I felt my heart skip a beat. The border facility—every military analyst knew about Meilyn's legendary border installations, where she'd developed and tested most of her innovative tactical approaches.

"The border?" Arthur asked with obvious interest. "That would be fascinating to see."

"It would be incredible," I said, probably far too quickly but unable to contain my enthusiasm. "The tactical innovations you've implemented there have influenced defensive doctrine across multiple continents."

"Then let's make a day of it," Meilyn said with a grin that made her look years younger. "I can show you both the practical applications of some of the theories we've been discussing. Fair warning though—it's an active military zone, so things can get interesting without much notice."

Twenty minutes later, we were standing in what Meilyn casually described as her "personal transportation room," which housed what appeared to be the most sophisticated warp gate I'd ever seen. The magical arrays carved into the floor were so complex they made my eyes water to look at directly, while the crystalline framework that formed the actual portal seemed to exist partially outside normal space.

"Impressive setup," Arthur observed with the kind of understated appreciation that meant he was actually quite amazed.

"Military necessity," Meilyn explained as she activated the gate controls. "The border is far from here, which makes conventional travel somewhat impractical for regular oversight. This gate allows immediate response to any developing situations."

"What about danger?" Arthur asked.

"This gate has automatic self-destruct protocols if the border defenses are ever breached. Can't risk providing hostile forces with direct access to the capital."

The casual way she mentioned that her personal transportation system would annihilate itself rather than fall into enemy hands was somehow both reassuring and terrifying. It spoke to the level of threats they dealt with regularly out here.

"Border defenses have been tested?" Arthur asked as the portal stabilized into a shimmering window that showed glimpses of fortified walls and military installations.

"More frequently than I'd prefer," Meilyn replied grimly. "The Savage Communion has been particularly active recently. They seem to be testing our response capabilities."

The Savage Communion—one of the Five Cults that posed existential threats to civilized nations. I'd read intelligence reports about their activities, but the idea of actually being near an area where they operated was both thrilling and terrifying.

"Shall we?" Meilyn gestured toward the portal with the casual confidence of someone who traveled through experimental magical transportation on a regular basis.

The transition through the warp gate was surprisingly smooth—a moment of disorientation as reality shifted around us, then we were stepping out onto a platform that was clearly designed for rapid deployment and defensive positioning.

The border wall was even more impressive than the intelligence reports had suggested. Massive fortifications of enchanted stone and steel rose nearly fifty meters into the sky, with defensive positions that could clearly handle anything short of a full military assault. Magical detection arrays created a web of surveillance that extended far beyond the physical barriers, while weapon emplacements provided overlapping fields of fire across the entire defensive perimeter.

"Welcome to the Western Continental Border Defense Installation," Meilyn said with obvious pride. "The most heavily fortified frontier in the known world."

I found myself staring in awe at the scope of the defensive preparations. This wasn't just a border wall—it was a military installation designed to hold against threats that most people couldn't even imagine.

"The detection range extends nearly fifty kilometers into hostile territory," Meilyn continued as she led us toward one of the observation platforms. "We can track movement patterns, identify magical signatures, and respond to threats before they get within striking distance of the main defensive line."

"How often do you get actual incursions?" Arthur asked as we climbed stairs that offered increasingly spectacular views of the surrounding landscape.

"Depends on what you mean by incursions," Meilyn replied. "Scouting parties and probing attacks happen weekly. Serious assault attempts maybe once every few months. Full-scale coordinated attacks... thankfully, those are rare, especially since the deal you made with the Axe King."

We reached the top of the observation platform, which provided a commanding view of the entire border region. To the south, I could see the civilized lands of the Western Continent stretching toward the horizon—ordered fields, established roads, signs of peaceful prosperity. To the north lay the Savage Lands—a wilderness of twisted forests and corrupted terrain where the Savage Communion held sway.

"It's beautiful," I said, though 'beautiful' felt inadequate to describe the stark contrast between civilization and chaos that was visible from this vantage point.

"In a terrifying sort of way," Arthur agreed, his enhanced perception clearly picking up details that I was missing.

"There," Meilyn said suddenly, pointing toward the northern horizon where a cloud of dust was becoming visible. Her voice carried a sharp edge that hadn't been there moments before. "That's... unexpected."

I squinted into the distance, trying to make out details in the approaching disturbance. "What is it?"

"Convoy," Meilyn replied, her entire demeanor shifting from relaxed tour guide to alert military commander in an instant. "Flying Savage Communion banners. That shouldn't be happening."

"Shouldn't be happening?" Arthur asked with obvious concern.

"The Savage Communion doesn't send diplomatic missions," Meilyn said grimly, her golden eyes never leaving the approaching convoy. "They don't negotiate, they don't exchange prisoners, and they certainly don't announce their presence with banners. This is completely outside their normal operational patterns."

A chill ran down my spine as the implications hit me. If the Savage Communion—one of the Five Cults that posed existential threats to entire continents—was doing something unprecedented, it probably wasn't good news.

"Then what are they doing here?" I asked, though I wasn't sure I wanted to know the answer.

"That's what concerns me," Meilyn replied, her hand moving instinctively toward where her scythe would normally hang. "The Savage Communion operates through raids, ambushes, and surprise attacks. They don't announce themselves unless they're either supremely confident or planning something that requires our attention to be focused elsewhere."

As the convoy drew closer, I could make out more details. Heavily armored vehicles that looked like they'd been cobbled together from scavenged military equipment, flying banners that displayed symbols I recognized from intelligence briefings as belonging to the Savage Communion's military hierarchy.

"How many?" I asked, counting what appeared to be at least a dozen vehicles.

"Far too many for any legitimate purpose," Meilyn observed with growing alarm. "The Savage Communion has never sent this large a group for anything other than a direct assault. And they've certainly never announced an assault beforehand."

"Should we be worried?" I asked, though the tension radiating from Meilyn was already answering that question.

"We should be very worried," Meilyn replied, her military training clearly taking over as she began mentally cataloging defensive options. "This level of deviation from their established patterns suggests either a major shift in their strategic approach or a distraction for something much worse."